Klarinet Archive - Posting 000027.txt from 1994/10

From: Lorne G Buick - Music TA <lgbuick@-----.CA>
Subj: Re: Notation Software (input devices)
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 1994 20:04:39 -0400

On Mon, 3 Oct 1994, Jay Heiser, Business Development wrote:

> -->The next "toy" I would like to get is either a MIDI keyboard or a MIDI
> -->input device that is compatible with clarinet (or microphone). Imagine the
> -->fun you could have, not to mention you could transcribe... ANYTHING for
> -->clarinet...

> -->You could perhaps even start your own "micro-publishing" business,
> -->releasing your favorite pieces (orchestral transpositions, etc).

Another new contributor here... At risk of using the group for commercial
purposes, I am a clarinetist who has done exactly what you suggest: having
spent the last nine years playing with a wind trio (oboe,cl, bassoon) I
bought my computer mainly for the purpose of publishing our arrangements.
If anyone's interested, please reply BY PRIVATE EMAIL so as not to abuse
the mailing list.

Anyway, the software I use is Encore (on a Mac)- it was recommended to me
by many in the business as being just as powerful as Finale and infinitely
easier to use. Having used it for six months now I find it does everything
I need it to do, and it was dead easy to learn. (Almost as easy as the Mac
itself!) My two caveats to anyone considering it: 1) there's no
educational discount, so if you're at a university/ college it's about
three times the price of Finale; 2) the company's support and customer
relations are notoriously bad.

> I believe that MIDI interfaces are available for some of the electronic
> woodwinds. I think Yamaha still sells the Windjammer and it can be
> Midi enabled somehow. I've thought about doing the same thing.

Any MIDI compatible wind controller (they all are, as far as I know) will
talk to your 'puter through a standard MIDI interface. The one I use is
the Casio DH (Digital Horn) 100, which I bought at a drugstore for $29! No,
it's not a typo... I haven't seen them around lately, but Radio Shack used
to sell them (for $160)

> Some of the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions documents) for some of the
> other music groups on the net have reviewed and listed available music
> notation software.

See especially the UseNet group <rec.music.compose> if you have access to it..

Lorne G. Buick....<lgbuick@-----.ca>